The Paris Agreement won't take effect until 55 countries representing at least 55 percent of global emissions officially join. Countries representing more than 49 percent of emissions have already committed to join early. Here's how we could bridge the gap.

Earth Day 2016 was a momentous celebration of international climate policy, as 175 countries -- a record number of signers of an international agreement on a single day -- signed the Paris Agreement. So what steps do we need to take to keep that momentum going -- and accelerate it -- over the coming months and years? Let's start with three key tasks for this year.

While the U.S. Supreme Court temporarily halted implementation of the Clean Power Plan (CPP), it’s in states’ own best interests to continue moving forward with compliance. New analysis finds Illinois can get 75 percent of the way to its CPP emissions-reduction target just through its existing clean energy policies and opportunities.

While a carbon tax has attracted little attention in the U.S. media before the primary debate last week, WRI research shows it's a policy that can reduce emissions in cost-effective, pro-growth and equitable ways. In fact, some 40 countries and more than 20 cities, states and regions have or are planning on putting carbon prices in place.

While people are starting to think about how to implement the Paris Climate Agreement, it's clear that Mother Nature isn't willing to wait. Several climate and scientific milestones have happened since the Agreement's adoption four months ago, underscoring the need for immediate and comprehensive action.

Hard economic times have prompted West Virginia to look toward a future that depends less on coal and more on renewable energy, a higher-technology job market and even a price on climate-warming carbon dioxide.

With global leaders headed to New York on April 22 to sign the historic Paris Agreement, now is a good time to mark progress made by countries, regions, cities and businesses on the path toward a low-carbon, climate-resilient future.

Mato Grosso do Sul, Brazil's sixth-largest state and a major agricultural producer, recently committed to go carbon-neutral. The initiative will help the country meet its national and international goals to reduce its overall emissions 37 percent below 2005 levels by 2025.